As 2014 edges into its last few months, I want to highlight those short stories which have impressed me this year and which will be on my shortlist for next year's award nominations.

Here's my first group of must-read stories:

"Steppin' Razor" by Maurice Broaddus from Asimov's Science Fiction, Feb. 2014.This impressive steampunk novelette is a great introduction to Maurice's fiction. The story is set in an alternate-history Jamaica, where competing factions and beliefs compete for dominance and power.

"Marielena" by Nina Allan, Interzone 254I've long been a fan of Nina Allan's beautiful stories, and "Marielena" must surely rank among her best. The story is the tale of a refugee in near-future Britain who is both haunted by a literally demon from his past who lives alongside the demons of the present and future.

In the coming weeks I'll highlight other stories on my emerging year's best list. I also suggest checking out K. Tempest Bradford's weekly io9 columns, which are essential reading for anyone who loves genre short stories.